ANTSTORE World of Ants

[Uncletommy]

So im in the kitchen and i look at the window, i see a male lasius niger sitting there. It's that time of the year i guess. I found a massive nest by m back door with hundreds of males and new queens sitting in the entrance but they're not coming out. Where would be the best place to catch the newly mated queens? do they mate with males from the same colony? I have a few test tubes all ready for them so now i need to catch some. Help please

[gabranth]

wait until the females wings fall off then catch them as that means there fertile and they do mate with males in the same colony

[Uncletommy]

i know that they are fertile when the wings fall off but what i meant was where is the best place to catch them after mating? would it be best to scout on the ground around the nest or catch loads and put them in a big container to mate or do they not mate artificially like that?

[gabranth]

its better to let them do it naturally if you put them into a container they might get nervous and not mate

[ratgreen]

scouting on the ground is the best bet, new queens sometimes fly miles before mating so just looking on the ground is your best bet.

[marc.tulley]

last year i just grabbed 4 off the ground , 30min later 3 had pulled thier wings off and were therefore pregger's

[ratgreen]

lol preggers, yer you can do that but dont take the new queens straight from original nest, they definatly wont be fertilised.

[SteveUK28]

basicaly wait untill u see a queen walking around looking to make herself a new nest. Mating takes place in the air so your never gonna get them to do it in a container soz great news that its that time tho.. been waiting for ages for this.. Looks like it could be a nice day today too.. so fingers crossed they could fly today

[ashhad1]

i havnt seen any winged queen or males lately at all near nests

[KiamCameron]

Ive seen winged lasius niger ants inside nest but not outside Ive seen some myrmica ruginodis queens and males inside nest as there in mine

[highered]

You must live in a hot part of the UK becuase I haven't seen any winged ants in any wild nests yet. I think we've got about 2 weeks left before they go on their nupital flight.
You can collect the winged ants but only after they willingly leave the nest. That is when they consider themselves to be on their nupital flight. After gently putting them in a container the queens let off a smell that attracts the males. You will see males climbing near and over the queens so you will know what is happening.

[KiamCameron]

Erm you shouldnt collect unfertilised queen ants because they will not mate with a male ant unless your really lucky they have to fly high in the air..

[highered]

I personally tried this once with Laisus niger years ago and it worked.

[SteveUK28]

You was very lucky then.. cos as kiam says they mate in the air!

[ratgreen]

well surely they have to meet on the floor then they fly away, as meeting in the air would be highly unlikely.
also i read somewere that the queens 'run away' from the males so that only the strongest/fittest males that can catch up with mate with her.